Lesley Ord tells us from personal experience why knowledge of first aid is vitally important…
‘Boring’. Not exactly the word I wanted to see on our online course feedback form.
I’m pleased to say that this is not typical of feedback, but, as is human nature, it’s the feedback I’ve been dwelling on.
Our course is about being ‘prepared to save a life’ in an emergency situation – knowing the basics of first aid to be able to keep someone alive till the emergency services get there.
I was anything but ‘bored’ a few years ago when I was walking my dog down a quiet leafy lane and a lady ran out of her house, shouting: “Please help, please help, my husband’s collapsed.”
I had no idea what to do, other than I had to help her. There was no option to say: “Oh no, sorry, just catch the next dog walker.”
It was probably the most stressful 15 minutes of my life. I know now that he had had a stroke, but all I could think of then was ambulance, keep him conscious and talking, hold his hand.
I have never felt so helpless. Luckily, he made it, but no thanks to me, really, we were both extremely lucky that day.
So, boring? Compared to a lap in a Formula One racing car, maybe, but one day this young man may be in a similar position, and that WILL get his adrenalin pumping, and maybe now he will be in a position to save someone’s life. It doesn’t get better than that.
How would you react if someone’s life was in your hands?
Go to www.virtual-college.co.uk/prepared to sign up for our FREE, one-hour online course. We’d love to hear YOUR feedback. Please email us once you have completed it: nick@csals.co.uk.
*Photo by Andy Holmes on Unsplash